Credit card providers to cut hefty surcharges

Glenda Kwek, Clancy Yeates Visa and American Express the first credit card companies to restrict unpopular surcharges.

NAB thinks small to cut costs

Clancy Yeates NAB will aim to cut the average size of its bank branches by a quarter as part of a cost-cutting drive.

Welfare group identifies $6b in possible cuts

Clancy Yeates Australia's main welfare group is urging federal Labor to make a $6 billion budget saving by clamping down on superannuation tax breaks, health insurance rebates, and the tax treatment of trusts and...

ACOSS: cut tax breaks, health rebate and save $6b

Clancy Yeates Australia's main national welfare group is urging federal Labor to cut nearly $6 billion from the budget by clamping down on superannuation tax breaks, health insurance rebates and the tax treatment...

Jobless rate tipped to rise as mining boom loses steam

Clancy Yeates AUSTRALIA'S economic growth will slow to well below its long-term average in the coming year, pushing up unemployment to levels not seen since the global financial crisis, leading economists predict.

Shares soar as US stays at cliff edge

Clancy Yeates The Australian sharemarket has surged to a level not seen since mid-2011.

Prime-time workers crowding Newstart

Clancy Yeates People in the prime of their working lives make up the largest share of the population on unemployment benefits, a trend unions and social services groups say reflects greater insecurity at work.

Backdown on surplus takes pressure off rates

Clancy Yeates THE odds of more interest rate cuts have diminished as a result of the government's decision to abandon its pledge for a rapid return to budget surplus, market economists say.

Threshold for online goods stays

Clancy Yeates The federal government is laying the groundwork for a future cut in the $1000 GST-free threshold for goods bought from overseas online stores.

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RBA aims to restrict taxi cards surcharge

Peter Martin, Clancy Yeates THE detested 10 per cent surcharge whacked onto taxi fares for the privilege of paying by a card won't survive the new year if the Reserve Bank gets its way.

ATO takeover of inactive super is good on all counts

Peter Martin and Clancy Yeates Handing lost and inactive super accounts over to the Tax Office will be good for their owners, Treasury has told a Senate committee.

Fund's tobacco snub plan

Clancy Yeates Taxpayer-owned Future Fund will consider ditching its controversial investments in big tobacco, but denies public pressure played a role.

Unclaimed money to boost budget

Clancy Yeates The budget will receive a boost of almost $900 million under a plan to transfer unclaimed money to the taxman and the corporate regulator.

Jobless rate tipped to continue to rise

Clancy Yeates Unemployment has jumped to a fresh 2½-year high, in the latest sign the economy is weakening as the mining boom comes off the boil.

Economy getting weaker as jobless rate increases

Clancy Yeates UNEMPLOYMENT has jumped to a fresh 2½ year high, in the latest sign the economy is weakening as the mining boom comes off the boil.

Bank reveals rush to pay off loans

Clancy Yeates Australians are rushing to pay off their home loans faster than many households overseas, with half of all borrowers ahead of their mortgage repayment schedule.

Mining threat to Swan's surplus

Peter Martin, Clancy Yeates The federal government's surplus - and Labor Party promises - will come under intense pressure from a drop in metal prices of up to 16 per cent over the coming year.

Pressure grows to protect those who reveal misdeeds

Clancy Yeates FEDERAL Labor faces growing pressure to introduce laws to protect public servants who expose suspected corruption, after long delays in its pledge to shield whistleblowers.

'Good behaviour' at core of governor's tenure

Clancy Yeates FEW institutions enjoy a position quite as lofty as that held by the Reserve Bank.